Recruiting and retaining employees is critical to business success in Asia. Genevieve Heng, Principal Derwent Executive provides excellent advice on the Asia job market and how to effectively recruit and retain a strong workforce. This is the 4th in a 7 part thought leader series sponsored by ServCorp Smart Offices http://blog.servcorp.com.hk
QROPS - Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes were introduced in 2006 as part of a major overhaul of Britain\'s pension framework, aimed at simplifying pension transfers to another country. New legislation was passed by the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), in order to comply with an EU directive that pensions be free to move across Europe\'s borders. This ruling means that individuals, wishing to retire to countries such as France, Spain and Portugal can effectively take their UK pension funds with them: http://www.axis-finance.com/what-are-qrops.php
Who can apply for a QROPS?
A QROPS is specifically designed to allow anyone, not intending to retire in the UK, to transfer existing and frozen UK pension plans into a more appropriate retirement vehicle.
Individuals who are, or have been members of a UK registered pension fund and are currently living outside of the UK, or intending to leave the UK on a permanent basis, can consider transferring their retirement fund into a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France
Transfers to QROPS
The UK Government allows transfers to QROPS to be made free of UK tax. Their aim is to simplify the affairs of individuals leaving the UK on a permanent basis and to encourage them to continue saving in order to provide an income when they retire. There is no official limit to the amount of funds that may be transferred to a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-France-pension-transfers
QROPS - HMRC Rules
What makes a scheme a QROPS?
In order to transfer your UK pension into a QROPS, it is necessary for the overseas pension scheme to be accepted by HMRC. The criteria outlined by HMRC for an overseas scheme to qualify as a QROPS include:
- The pension scheme must be established outside of the UK
- It must be recognised for tax purposes in the country where it is located
- It must be regulated in the country in which it is established
Age that benefits can be taken from a QROPS
The QROPS regime mirrors that of a regulated pension scheme in the UK. Benefits, including lump sum payments, from the transferred funds may not be distributed earlier than the normal retirement age of 55, if an individual has been a non-UK resident for less than five complete tax years: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France-HMRC-Rules
QROPS Reporting requirements
HMRC should be notified if a payment is made within the first five tax years of a member becoming non-UK tax resident. Any benefits paid before five complete tax years of non-UK residency and not in accordance with UK Pension rules will be deemed an unauthorised payment.
The scheme manager does not have to notify HMRC if the payment is made 10 or more years after the day of the transfer that created the QROPS fund for the \'relevant member\', provided that the person is non UK resident for the duration of this period. This 10 year \'bracket\' for reporting payments took effect as of 6 April 2012.
QROPS List
When transferring your UK pension to a scheme overseas, it is important to check that the scheme meets the conditions to be a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS). Not all transfers to overseas or offshore schemes are QROPS transfers; it is therefore essential to verify that the scheme receiving your UK benefits is on the QROPS list published by HMRC, otherwise a transfer will be treated as a transfer to a non-qualifying overseas scheme and substantial penalties may be applied by HMRC at the time of transfer: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-list-living-in-France
How do I know if it is a legitimate QROPS scheme?
QROPS approved plans that agree to have their details published are listed on the HMRC website. A UK Pension administrator will confirm a QROPS listing before agreeing to a transfer. If not listed, the administrator will contact HMRC
VolAero Drones is working with famed outdoorsman Bill Booth to demonstrate that drones equipped with the latest thermal imaging equipment can effectively spot and track pythons at night – the prime hunting time. Over 100,000 Burmese pythons infesting the Florida Everglades have decimated 90 percent of small wildlife while surviving all attempts at eradication.
“Python hunters finally have a tool to make hunting more efficient, bringing down the python numbers that are devastating Florida’s Everglades,” said Booth. “This drone and thermal technology is light-years ahead of shining a flashlight into the darkness and hoping for the best. The thermal imagery picked up not just the monster pythons, but also native snakes as small as 18 inches. This suggests that we’ll be able to spot and eliminate clusters of python hatchlings, which will help curb their reproductive cycle.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8225051-volaero-drones-thermal-technology-python-invasion-everglades/
UBM TechWeb announces the expansion of Online Marketing Summit (OMS) to Silicon Valley. In order to drive the growth and innovation of this brand, UBM TechWeb also announces Shannon Ryan as the General Manager of Online Marketing Summit. OMS empowers practitioners of all levels with hands-on knowledge and insights on digital marketing, enabling marketers to more effectively drive customer engagement. OMS Santa Clara will take place at the Santa Clara Convention Center, October 22-25, 2012. For more information visit: http://www.onlinemarketingsummit.com/.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/42327-ubm-techweb-online-marketing-summit-silicon-valley-santa-clara
The Preeclampsia Foundation today released the Illustrated Preeclampsia Symptoms Tear Pad, a patient education tool that was developed in collaboration with health services researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill. The tool effectively informs pregnant women, even those with potentially poor literacy, about preeclampsia. Because preeclampsia is a disorder that can have grave consequences for a mother and her unborn baby, the goal is for the tool to offer information in a way that allows women to assimilate and retain knowledge related to preeclampsia, leading them to promptly seek medical attention should they have symptoms related to preeclampsia.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61626-preeclampsia-foundation-illustrated-symptoms-tear-pad-for-pregnant-women
Corporates today are on the lookout of new and novel ways to use their CSR funds effectively. A genuine step towards improving the quality of education in urban and especially rural areas would definitely interest them. And to make this possible, STEM Learning Pvt Ltd has launched Mini Science Centres (MSC) to promote experiential learning. STEM Learning is a pioneer in installing Mini Science Centres at schools in India. So far, they have installed over 40 Mega Science Centres and 250+ Mini Science Centres in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Their aim is to reach one million students from rural as well as urban areas of the country.
The Mini Science Project is an innovative concept developed by STEM Learning and consists of 60+ table-top models that are designed as per the syllabus of SSC, CBSC and ICSE Boards. These models come with a two-year warranty and maintenance. STEM learning also provides training to teachers to improve the effectiveness of these models in English and other vernacular languages.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7561751-stem-learning-mini-science-centre/
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) and PR Newswire welcomed investor relations professionals from some of Europe’s largest corporations to the Westminster Hotel in central Paris on 21st January to take part in a breakfast forum aimed at educating European global companies about the OTCQX® and OTCQB® marketplaces in the US and providing guidance and best practices on cost-effectively reaching US investors.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7425751-otc-markets-us-investor-strategies/
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) and PR Newswire were joined by the UK’s Investor Relations Society in welcoming senior investor relations professionals to the latest instalment of their successful “No Blank Screens” series. The goal of the breakfast forum was to help educate European companies with global vision about the OTCQX® Best and OTCQB® Venture Marketplaces in the US, and to provide guidance and best practice tips on effectively engaging US investors. The event was held in the historic, Grade II listed One Moorgate Place in central London on 2nd July.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7571051-trans-atlantic-information-flow/
Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) today announced that its breakthrough G1 Integrated Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC), which gives fire departments the opportunity to cost-effectively equip every firefighter with thermal imaging technology, has received third party certification as compliant to the 2013 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1981 performance standards. With this certification, MSA can begin shipping its Integrated TIC immediately.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8043551-msa-firefighter-safety-thermal-imaging-camera/
Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACCL), a leading provider of scientific innovation lifecycle management solutions, today announced Accelrys Insight and Accelrys Insight for Excel, completing the roll-out of Accelrys’ next-generation cheminformatics suite and providing an interactive, collaborative environment for rapid and effective decision-making in drug discovery. Accelrys Insight and Accelrys Insight for Excel offer research scientists an entirely new way of accessing, visualizing and analyzing data that is locked in disparate locations across internal discovery teams and networked external partners, helping to lower long-standing barriers to bringing innovative therapeutics to market faster and more cost effectively.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62191-accelrys-insight-next-generation-decision-making-in-scientific-discovery
http://www.zencart-manager.com Discover the functionality of Store Manager for Zen Cart- an exclusive tool for managing your Zen Cart store much effectively. With this easy to understand software you get a great ability to manage categorises, products, manufacturers, customers, orders, etc. Try it for free now: http://www.zencart-manager.com/download
British body armour firm PPSS Group have announced the set-up of their PPSS Canada branch, based in Toronto.
Having received global recognition especially for their ultra-thin and light high performance bullet resistant vests in 2011, PPSS Group are equally well respected for their super tough stab resistant vests, offering unmatched protection from blunt force trauma.
Helping to effectively protect frontline professionals from firearms, edged weapons and human bites is precisely what PPSS Group is all about.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58666-PPSS-Group-Canadian-branch-launch
